NightSky Network
SAS NightSky Network (BETA)
The SAS NightSky Network connects members' collective knowledge and experience, to educate and collaborate on astronomical projects of significance.
If you would like to be part of the Collaborative Network, please contact us.
Update (28 Feb 2023): A proof-of-concept, and detailed presentation of the mechanics of this project will be presented at the next club meeting, March 25 2023.
Current Project (Ending 10 April)
NGC 2736 Pencil Nebula
Target Wavelengths: RGB, Ha, [Oiii]
Center RA: 09h 00' 7.8"
Center Dec: -45° 57' 4.9"
Rotation: Up is 0° North (0° in N.I.N.A)
Plate Solve: Nova Astronometry
Upcoming Projects (April - July)
Messier 83 Southern Pinwheel Galaxy
Target Wavelengths: Primary: LRGB, Secondary: Ha, [Oiii], Sii
Center RA: 13h 36' 59.7"
Center Dec: -29° 52' 7.0"
Rotation: Up is 0° North (0° in N.I.N.A)
Plate Solve: Nova Astronometry
Centaurus A
Target Wavelengths: Primary: LRGB, Secondary: Ha, [Oiii], Sii
Center RA: 13h 25' 28.0"
Center Dec: -43° 00' 41.5"
Rotation: Up is 0° North (0° in N.I.N.A)
Plate Solve: Nova Astronometry
Future Projects
NGC 7923 Helix Nebula [July - October]
30Dor Tarantula Nebula [October - December]
Sh2-308 Dolphin Head Nebula [December - March]
Current Collaborators
President - Brendan Junge
Optics: Celestron 9.25 EdgeHD (f/7)
Imaging Sensor: ZWO ASI2600MM Pro (IMX571)
Mount: SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6
LRGB Filters: Optolong LRGB
Narrowband Filters: Antlia 3.0nm Ha [Oiii]
Speciality Filter: Star Analyser 200
Image Scale: 0.47"/pixel
Nominal FoV: 0.82° x 0.55°
Secretary - Caleb Kam
Optics: Celestron 9.25 EdgeHD (f/7)
Imaging Sensor: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro (IMX571)
Mount: SkyWatcher EQ6-R
Filter: Optolong L-Pro
Image Scale: 0.47"/pixel
Nominal FoV: 0.82° x 0.55°
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Optics: SkyWatcher Esprit 100 (f/5.5)
Imaging Sensor: QHY268M (IMX571)
Mount: SkyWatcher EQ6-R
LRGB Filters: Optolong LRGB
Narrowband Filters: Antlia 3.0nm Sii Ha [Oiii]
Image Scale: 1.41"/pixel
Nominal FoV: 2.46° x 1.65°
EH Master - Dale Smalley
Optics: Celestron 9.25 EdgeHD (f/7)
Imaging Sensor: ZWO ASI6200MM Pro (IMX455)
Mount: Avalon M-Uno
LRGB Filters: ZWO LRGB
Narrowband Filters: Antlia 4.5nm Sii Ha [Oiii]
Image Scale: 0.47"/pixel
Nominal FoV: 1.25° x 0.84°
Colin Allen
Optics: William Optics RedCat 71
Imaging Sensor: ASI2600MM Pro (IMX571)
Mount: ZWO AM5
LRGB Filters: Antlia LRGB
Narrowband Filters: Antlia SHO
Image Scale: 2.23"/Pixel
Nominal FoV: 3.89° x 2.61°
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Optics: Celestron 9.25 EdgeHD (f/7)
Imaging Sensor: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro (IMX571)
Mount: SkyWatcher EQ6-R
Filter: Optolong L-Ultimate, Baader Neodymium
Image Scale: 0.47"/pixel
Nominal FoV: 0.82° x 0.55°
Nick Stefan
Optics: SkyWatcher Esprit 100 (f/5.5)
Imaging Sensor: ASI294MC Pro (IMX294)
Mount: SkyWatcher EQ6-R
LRGB Filters: Baader UV/IR Cut
Narrowband Filters: Antlia ALP-T Gold
Image Scale: 1.74"/Pixel
Nominal FoV: 2.01° x 1.35°
Neil Reevees
Optics: Celestron 8" EdgeHD (f/7)
Imaging Sensor: ASI2600MM Pro (IMX571)
Mount: SkyWatcher EQ6-R
LRGB Filters: Antlia LRGB
Narrowband Filters: Antlia SHO
Image Scale: 0.55"/Pixel
Nominal FoV: 0.95° x 0.64°
Grant Kerswill
Optics: SkyWatcher Esprit 100 (f/5.5)
Imaging Sensor: ASI6200MM Pro (IMX 455)
Mount: Celestron CGX-L
LRGB Filters: Baader LRGB
Narrowband Filters: Antlia 3.0nm Sii Ha [Oiii]
Image Scale: 1.41"/pixel
Nominal FoV: 3.75° x 2.5°
Aaron Hope
Optics: Celestron RASA8 (f/2)
Imaging Sensor: QHY183C (IMX183)
Mount: SkyWatcher EQ6-R
Filter: Optolong L-eNhance
Image Scale: 1.24"/pixel
Nominal FoV: 1.91° x 1.27°
Jenny Robinson
Optics: Saxon 100ED (f/7.2)
Imaging Sensor: Canon 70D
Mount: SkyWatcher EQ6
Filter: Baader UHC
Image Scale: 1.17"/pixel
Nominal FoV: 1.79° x 1.19°
To be a SAS NightSky Network Collaborator:
Pre-Requisites:
Financial Members of the Southern Astronomical Society
Have completed "Introduction to Astronomy", "Astrophotography - Getting Started", and "Introduction to PixInsight"
Owns and operates your own telescope setup
Possess functional operational and pre-processing skills (i.e., Subframe Calibration)
Optional Skills and Requirements:
Possess competent processing skills
Imaging Computer to be connected to the network during acquisition
Temperature Controlled Imaging Sensor
Able to run Google Drive in the background and upload files live to Google Drive
Image Acquisition with N.I.N.A
Recommended NINA File Pattern:
$$TARGETNAME$$\$$FILTER$$\\$$FILTER$$_$$TARGETNAME$$_$$DATE$$_$$TIME$$_$$FRAMENR$$_$$SENSORTEMP$$_$$EXPOSURETIME$$_[NAME + SCOPE]
Classifications:
Ultra Wide Field - Nominal FoV of greater than 2.5°
Wide Field - Nominal FoV of between 1.0°-2.5°
Narrow Field - Nominal FoV of between 0.6°-1.0°
Ultra Narrow Field - Nominal FoV of less than 0.6°